Being mayor in an election year has not been kind during an election year for Liberal City Commission candidates.

But Joe Denoyer became the first sitting mayor in the last four elections to earn re-election.

Previous mayors who suffered the defeats were Ron Warren, John T.

Smith and Dale Reed.

Denoyer was elected to a four-year term in 2005, and during his term the Liberal City Commission enacted the four-tenths sales tax to finish paying for Trailmobile, purchased the former First National Bank building, sold the fire station to Walgreens and built a new one, and approved the aquatics center currently being built.

Denoyer will serve a second four-year term after finishing second in Tuesday election with only 128 votes separating first and third.

“It weighed in the back of my mind,” Denoyer said. “Doug was the only mayor to be re-elected. Hopefully, we can put that behind us.”

The role of mayor is appointed by council, and Denoyer was glad the election was over this morning.

“I feel relieved. I was very nervous,” he said. “I feel good and ready for four more years.

“What’s next is probably continuing with the capitol improvements to the city, working on economic development and, of course, two important issues that will be coming up – the renewal of the 1-cent sales tax in 2011 and, of course, our waste water treatment plant coming in compliance with KDHE.

Denoyer also felt appreciative to many.

“I would like to thank my family for their support, the other candidates for a good clean race and of course the voters for having enough faith in me to let me do it again – so, I have four more years,” he added.

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The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Associated Press.

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